Royal Excel Mouscron
{{Short description|Belgian professional football club}}
{{for|the former club dissolved in 2009|R.E. Mouscron}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Royal Excel Mouscron
| image = Royal Excel Mouscron logo.svg
| upright = 0.65
| fullname = Royal Excel Mouscron
| nickname = Les Hurlus
| short name = REM
| founded = {{Start date and years ago|df=yes|1922}} (as RC Péruwelz)
| dissolved = {{End date and age|2022}}
| ground = Stade Le Canonnier
| capacity = 10,800{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20180329062916/http://www.excel-foot.be/nl/infrastrusctures/ Het stadion 'Le Canonnier']}}, excel-foot.be (last check 30/03/2018)
| owner = Gérard López
| chairman = Patrick Declerck
| manager =
| league =
| season = {{plainlist|
- Final season
- 2021–22}}
| position =
7th of 8 (folded)
| pattern_la1=_exmo1718h|pattern_b1=_exmo1718h|pattern_ra1=_exmo1718h|pattern_sh1=
| leftarm1=FC0A10|body1=FFFFFF|rightarm1=FC0A10|shorts1=FC0A10|socks1=FC0A10
| pattern_la2=_exmo1718a|pattern_b2=_exmo1718a|pattern_ra2=_exmo1718a
| leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=000000|socks2=000000
| pattern_la3=_exmo1718t|pattern_b3=_exmo1718t|pattern_ra3=_exmo1718t|pattern_sh3=
| leftarm3=FFFFFF|body3=FFFFFF|rightarm3=FFFFFF|shorts3=000000|socks3=000000
| current =
}}
Royal Excel Mouscron ({{IPA|fr|mukʁɔ̃}}, {{IPA|nl|muˈskrun}}), commonly known as Mouscron or familiarly as REM, was a Belgian professional football club based in Mouscron.
The team was formed as Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz in the spring of 2010 as a result of the merging between bankrupt R.E. Mouscron and R.R.C. Peruwelz. It won promotion to the Belgian Pro League in 2014 and changed its name in the summer of 2016, being relegated in 2021 and filing for bankruptcy a year later.
The club was owned by nearby French club Lille OSC from 2012 to 2015, and by a Maltese consortium linked to Israeli agent Pini Zahavi from 2015 to 2018, Pairoj Piempongsant of Carabao Energy Drink from 2018 to 2020, and Spanish-Luxembourgish businessman Gérard López from 2020 to 2022. The club was investigated by the Belgian federal judiciary over alleged financial offences relating to Zahavi.
History
=Foundation and promotions=
Following the liquidation and break-up of R.E. Mouscron, whose registration number was removed by the Royal Belgian Football Association, the city of Mouscron began negotiations with leaders of R.R.C. Peruwelz about a possible merge. After weeks of hesitation and uncertainty, an agreement was reached. The agreement was officially signed and announced on 11 March 2010. Debts of about €100,000 in R.R.C. Peruwelz's name were cleared while the city agreed to maintain the training center known as "Futurosport". The newly merged club, Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz, took on the history of R.R.C. Peruwelz, receiving matricule number 216 and keeping red and blue as its main colors.{{Cite web |url=http://www.rmp-foot.be/rmp/historique.php |title=History of Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz |access-date=2011-08-28 |archive-date=2017-11-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107031300/http://www.rmp-foot.be/rmp/historique.php |url-status=live }}
In its first season, it participated in Belgian Promotion A, the 4th level of Belgian football. They were promoted to the Belgian Third Division for the 2011–12 season, playing in Division A, while reaching Round 6 of the 2011–12 Belgian Cup before losing to Belgian Pro League club Beerschot on penalties 4–3.{{cite news |title=Le RMP avait fait trembler le Beerschot en 2011 |trans-title=RMP made Beerschot tremble in 2011 |url=https://www.sudinfo.be/art/755079/article/2021-02-25/le-rmp-avait-fait-trembler-le-beerschot-en-2011 |access-date=21 May 2023 |publisher=Sud Info |date=25 February 2021 |language=French |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521180905/https://www.sudinfo.be/art/755079/article/2021-02-25/le-rmp-avait-fait-trembler-le-beerschot-en-2011 |url-status=live }} They finished first in their division in league play, and thus were promoted to the Belgian Second Division. The next season Mouscron-Péruwelz finished 2nd and qualified for the promotion play-offs but lost; in the cup, they reached Round 6 again, losing 3–2 after extra time to Standard Liège.{{cite news |title=Mouscron-Péruwelz – Standard 2–3: les Rouches en ont vu de toutes les couleurs |trans-title=Mouscron-Péruwelz – Standard 2–3: Les Rouches saw a bit of everything |url=https://www.lavenir.net/sports/football/d1a/2012/09/25/mouscron-peruwelz-standard-2-3-les-rouches-en-ont-vu-de-toutes-les-couleurs-PMFXF3OBMFH2JFT4CMHCMCNGMM/ |access-date=21 May 2023 |work=L'Avenir |date=25 September 2012 |language=French |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521180904/https://www.lavenir.net/sports/football/d1a/2012/09/25/mouscron-peruwelz-standard-2-3-les-rouches-en-ont-vu-de-toutes-les-couleurs-PMFXF3OBMFH2JFT4CMHCMCNGMM/ |url-status=live }}
In 2013–14, Royal Mouscron-Péruwelz came fourth and made the playoffs, where they won promotion on the final day with a 4–2 win at Sint-Truidense V.V. while K.A.S. Eupen lost 2–1 at Oud-Heverlee Leuven. The result restored top-flight football to the city of Mouscron four years after the decline of Royal Excelsior Mouscron.{{cite news |title=Tour final de D2: Mouscron-Péruwelz revient en Division 1, cinq ans après la faillite! (vidéos et photos) |trans-title=Final day of D2: Mouscron-Péruwels return to Division 1, five years after bankruptcy! (videos and photos) |url=https://www.sudinfo.be/art/1012102/article/2014-05-22/tour-final-de-d2-mouscron-peruwelz-revient-en-division-1-cinq-ans-apres-la-faill |access-date=21 May 2023 |publisher=Sud Info |date=23 May 2014 |language=French |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521173918/https://www.sudinfo.be/art/1012102/article/2014-05-22/tour-final-de-d2-mouscron-peruwelz-revient-en-division-1-cinq-ans-apres-la-faill |url-status=live }}
=Top-flight years and dissolution=
In 2015, after their first season in the top flight, the club saw the termination of its partnership with neighbouring French Ligue 1 club Lille OSC, which had been the majority shareholder for the past three years. This was because Belgian businessman Marc Coucke had invested in Lille while being owner of Belgian top-flight team K.V. Oostende, and could not own interests in two teams in the same league.{{cite news |title=Le LOSC et Mouscron, c'est fini |trans-title=LOSC and Mouscron, it's over |url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/hauts-de-france/2015/04/01/le-losc-et-mouscron-c-est-fini-695851.html |access-date=21 May 2023 |publisher=France 3 |date=1 April 2015 |language=French |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521173916/https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/hauts-de-france/2015/04/01/le-losc-et-mouscron-c-est-fini-695851.html |url-status=live }}
After the separation from Lille in 2015, the club was bought by a Maltese company involving Israeli agent Pini Zahavi, then transferred to another Maltese consortium controlled by his nephew Adar, to avoid FIFA's rules on agents owning clubs.{{cite news |title=Pini Zahavi, l'homme de l'ombre qui a rendu possible le transfert de Neymar au PSG |trans-title=Pini Zahavi, the man in the shadows who made Neymar's transfer to PSG possible |url=https://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/2017/08/04/pini-zahavi-lhomme-de-lombre-qui-a-rendu-possible-le-transfert-de-neymar-au-psg-TQQVDVAIN5ABVMVOIYTJDNROIQ/ |access-date=21 May 2023 |work=La Dernière Heure |date=4 August 2017 |language=French |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521173916/https://www.dhnet.be/sports/football/2017/08/04/pini-zahavi-lhomme-de-lombre-qui-a-rendu-possible-le-transfert-de-neymar-au-psg-TQQVDVAIN5ABVMVOIYTJDNROIQ/ |url-status=live }}
The club had its best finish in the Belgian Cup in 2015–16, making the quarter-finals before a 2–1 loss at K.R.C. Genk.{{cite news |last1=Makanga |first1=Edgar |title=Croky Cup : deux coups d'éclat de Neeskens Kebano envoient le Racing Genk en demi-finale |trans-title=Croky Cup: two lightning bolts from Neeskens Kebano send Racing Genk into the semi-final |url=https://www.walfoot.be/belgique/coupe-de-belgique/2015-2016/calendrier/quarts-de-finale/krc-genk/excel-mouscron |access-date=21 May 2023 |publisher=WalFoot |date=16 December 2015 |language=French |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521191702/https://www.walfoot.be/belgique/coupe-de-belgique/2015-2016/calendrier/quarts-de-finale/krc-genk/excel-mouscron |url-status=live }} In June 2016, the club changed its name to Royal Excel Mouscron, which it would remain until its bankruptcy.{{cite news |title=Excel Mouscron : enfin une saison plus calme ? |trans-title=Excel Mouscron: finally a calmer season? |url=https://www.walfoot.be/news/2016-07-19/excel-mouscron--presentation-de-lequipe-pour-la-saison-2016-2017 |access-date=21 May 2023 |publisher=WalFoot |date=19 July 2016 |language=French |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521173918/https://www.walfoot.be/news/2016-07-19/excel-mouscron--presentation-de-lequipe-pour-la-saison-2016-2017 |url-status=live }}
In March 2018, Thai businessman Pairoj Piempongsant of the Carabao Energy Drink bought 90% of the club's shares, with 10% remaining in local hands.{{cite news |last1=Huzler |first1=Sébastien |title=Rachat de l'Excel: contrat de 5 ans pour le nouveau patron |trans-title=Redemption at Excel: 5-year contract for the new owner |url=https://www.lesoir.be/147822/article/2018-03-27/rachat-de-lexcel-contrat-de-5-ans-pour-le-nouveau-patron |access-date=21 May 2023 |work=Le Soir |date=27 March 2018 |language=French |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521173916/https://www.lesoir.be/147822/article/2018-03-27/rachat-de-lexcel-contrat-de-5-ans-pour-le-nouveau-patron |url-status=live }} Eleven months later, the club was put in administration by the Belgian federal judiciary, due to alleged money laundering by Pini Zahavi.{{cite news |title=Blanchiment dans le football : la justice belge place Mouscron "sous administration provisoire" |trans-title=Money laundering in football: Belgian judiciary puts Mouscron "under provisional administration" |url=https://www.sudouest.fr/sport/blanchiment-dans-le-football-la-justice-belge-place-mouscron-sous-administration-provisoire-2808561.php |access-date=21 May 2023 |work=Sud Ouest |date=27 February 2019 |language=French |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521173916/https://www.sudouest.fr/sport/blanchiment-dans-le-football-la-justice-belge-place-mouscron-sous-administration-provisoire-2808561.php |url-status=live }} In June 2019, a court in Mons ordered the club to restore the name Péruwelz due to an agreement between the two united clubs and the possession of that club's matricule number; the two clubs agreed not to restore the name.{{cite news |title=Mouscron trouve un accord avec Péruwelz et ne doit pas changer de nom |trans-title=Mouscron find an agreement with Péruwelz and don't have to change their name |url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/mouscron-trouve-un-accord-avec-peruwelz-et-ne-doit-pas-changer-de-nom-10250177 |access-date=21 May 2023 |publisher=RTBF |date=19 June 2019 |language=French |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521232831/https://www.rtbf.be/article/mouscron-trouve-un-accord-avec-peruwelz-et-ne-doit-pas-changer-de-nom-10250177 |url-status=live }}
Spanish-Luxembourgish businessman Gérard López took over the club in May 2020, restoring its partnership with Lille, another one of his properties. He was ousted from Lille in December 2020.{{cite news |last1=Aarons |first1=Ed |title=Ownership questions leave Belgian club Mouscron facing uncertain future |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/09/ownership-questions-leave-belgian-club-mouscron-facing-uncertain-future |access-date=21 May 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=9 February 2021 |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521180027/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/09/ownership-questions-leave-belgian-club-mouscron-facing-uncertain-future |url-status=live }} The club's seven-year stay in the top flight ended with relegation in 2020–21.{{cite news |last1=Maréchal |first1=Edouard |title=Après Mouscron, Jorge Simao retrouve déjà un poste d'entraîneur |trans-title=After Mouscron, Jorge Simão already finds a new managerial job |url=https://www.walfoot.be/news/2021-05-14/jorge-simao-retrouve-deja-un-poste-dentraneur |access-date=21 May 2023 |publisher=WalFoot |date=14 May 2021 |language=French |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521180028/https://www.walfoot.be/news/2021-05-14/jorge-simao-retrouve-deja-un-poste-dentraneur |url-status=live }} In June 2021, former Belgium international Enzo Scifo was bought in as manager with Mbo Mpenza as director of football and his brother Émile Mpenza as Scifo's assistant, but all three were dismissed in October.{{cite news |title=Mouscron : José Jeunechamps succède à Enzo Scifo sur le banc de l'Excel |trans-title=Mouscron: José Jeunechamps succeeds Enzo Scifo on Excel's bench |url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/mouscron-jose-jeunechamps-succede-a-enzo-scifo-sur-le-banc-de-l-excel-10863042 |access-date=21 May 2023 |publisher=RTBF |date=19 October 2021 |language=French |archive-date=22 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230522001340/https://www.rtbf.be/article/mouscron-jose-jeunechamps-succede-a-enzo-scifo-sur-le-banc-de-l-excel-10863042 |url-status=live }}
In May 2022, the club were relegated two tiers to the fourth, after being refused a professional licence due to financial irregularities and a debt of around €10 million.{{cite news |last1=Bja |first1=Rayan |title=L'Excel Mouscron de Gérard Lopez (ex-LOSC) rétrogradé au niveau amateur |trans-title=Gérard López's (ex-LOSC) Excel Mouscron relegated to amateur level |url=https://www.lepetitlillois.com/2022/05/10/lexcel-mouscron-de-gerard-lopez-ex-losc-retrograde-au-niveau-amateur/ |access-date=21 May 2023 |work=Le Petit Lillois |date=10 May 2022 |language=French |archive-date=27 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327065735/https://www.lepetitlillois.com/2022/05/10/lexcel-mouscron-de-gerard-lopez-ex-losc-retrograde-au-niveau-amateur/ |url-status=live }} On 31 May, the club filed for bankruptcy.{{cite news |title=Belgique : le Royal Excel Mouscron fait faillite |trans-title=Belgium: Royal Excel Mouscron files for bankruptcy |url=https://www.sofoot.com/breves/belgique-le-royal-excel-mouscron-fait-faillite |access-date=21 May 2023 |work=So Foot |date=1 June 2022 |language=French |archive-date=21 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521173918/https://www.sofoot.com/breves/belgique-le-royal-excel-mouscron-fait-faillite |url-status=live }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{oweb|http://www.excel-foot.be}} {{in lang|fr}}
- [https://int.soccerway.com/teams/belgium/rrc-peruwelz/6946/ Royal Excel Mouscron] at Soccerway
- {{Facebook|104556192983183}} {{in lang|fr}}
{{Belgian Pro League}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Excel Mouscron}}
Category:Defunct football clubs in Belgium
Category:Association football clubs established in 1922
Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2022
Category:1922 establishments in Belgium